Acting
Read Orbiting the Giant Hairball Chapters 11-15 Think about what you read. How do these chapters/stories apply to acting? What is the author encouraging you to do creatively? How can his ideas help you to be more creative in acting choices?
Watch Acting – What is it? Ted Talk by David Wenham.
Consider how you can tell your story. How can you behave truthfully in an imaginary setting? We are not suggesting thqt you need to become a method actor for your group film – (Think about the scabs). But do think about how you can really get into your character. What are they thinking? Why do they behave the way they behave? What motivates them?
This week we are learning about Acting. You have acted before. At the very least- you have pretended to be something other than who you really are before. That’s acting. You are pretending to be something in order to tell a story.
WATCH: Tips on acting. by Matthew McConaughey –
How much time does he spend with the script before he’s ready to perform the character? What does it mean to you to find your “man of truth?” How might you go about achieving that?
WATCH: Intro into Acting. by Kevin Bacon –
Not only is he named after one of the more delicious breakfast meat options, and not only is he a gifted actor and teacher of acting- He’s also the center of the universe. Are you aware that you can connect any actor or any film to Kevin Bacon? It’s true. Now was this a serious video? Probably not, but does he make some good points? Can your appearance help you act? I have a pair of novelty buck teeth. Okay- it’s actually three pairs. But the point is- if I put them in my mouth- I begin acting immediately. I’m serious. If you ask me to act like a hillbilly, sure- I might joke around and maybe try a little red neck accent. Ha ha! That was cute. But if I put in those teeth, I become the hillbilly. I am suddenly shirtless and barefoot in overalls- haven’t bathed in 6 months and my vocabulary has been instantly decimated. Okay, I probably wouldn’t say “decimated,” more like, “Sheeeeooot, hunny. wut’s ‘nother wurd fer… ahhh hick. Gimme a smooch.” Did I mention how Sister Fontano feels about my wilby teefs. If I put them in she instantly wants nothing to do with me. Her eyes roll back in her head, she plugs her nose, tells me to go away. That’s Acting my friends. Not only am I a smelly old hillbilly- she sees a smelly old hillbilly.
Do you guys know who Elvis Presley was? He was the “King of Rock and Roll.” Elvis impersonators have been around as long as Elvis himself. But after he died in 1977 they really took off. Some are good. Some are not so good. Jim may not be the best- but I love at the end how he says- “I was…..HIM!!!” Impersonation is a fun way to learn how to act.
Watch this video: Think about what these famous actors are saying. Does anything stand out to you?
BODY LANGUAGE
WATCH these three videos. Think about how you’re character moves. How would they enter a room? How would they sit? How do they walk? When an animator is designing a character, a major part of the design is the walk cycle. How does this character walk? or move through space? or interact with furniture? Why is that important? How can it help you act? Is it part of finding who you’re character really is?
This one is just fun. It shows how differently you can say the same line, and how those differences change the way the line is interpreted.
ASSIGNMENTS
Watch these three short films for fun.
Emotion is your key to connecting the human spirit. Find it in your character and you will love acting.
Watch a movie. Pick a movie- it can be a favorite, or one you haven’t seen before. Pay attention to the acting? Is it believable? Are you distracted by the performance or does it connect you to the character? How do you think the actor prepared for the role? What do they do well? What can you do like they did?
This week for class time we will meet briefly and then you will have the rest of the time with your groups for filming and ACTING and working on your movies. So dive into your character and figure out who they really are.
Get creative. Do great work! And as always. Have Fun!
